Review: Shield of Mercia by MJ Porter

Today, I'm delighted to welcome back a fantastic historical fiction author, and all-round lovely human being, MJ Porter. I'm sharing my review of Shield of Mercia, the latest instalment of young Icel's adventures. If you love fast-paced medieval fiction, read on!

 

Shield of Mercia is currently on blog tour with Rachel's Random Resources. Make sure to check out all those fabulous tour stops.

 

Shield of Mercia

MJ Porter

I've read and reviewed every book in this thrilling series, and I was chuffed to see the action continued apace in Shield of Mercia! (Search for 'Mercia’ in the blog's search bar above to find all my previous reviews. Then go buy the books!)

 

In Shield of Mercia, again, young Mercian warrior Icel has to suffer, and this time at the hands of not one, but two formidable enemies. There is no rest for him, and his battered body, in this taut plot. Poor lad!

 When the Archbishop of Canterbury entreats King Wiglaf of Mercia to hold a synod on Mercian lands, the king agrees, reluctantly. A known ally of treacherous King Ecgberht of Wessex, and his good-for-nothing son, King Æthelwulf of Kent, he appoints Ealdorman Ælfstan and his reliable retinue – amongst them Icel – to accompany the assembled group from Londinium to the venue deep in Mercian lands, they do so equally reluctantly. Expecting a trap from Wessex, but all goes to plan. Even the slayer of two Mercian kings (amongst them Icel's father), King Athelstan of the East Angles behaves himself. Yet the tension never lets off, as a messenger gives Icel a warning that the Wessex leaders have not forgotten the part he played in uncovering their secret plot to remove Wiglaf that involved Cynethryth, Wiglaf's queen – now safely kept locked away in a nunnery.

 On return to Kingsholm, Icel's mood doesn't improve, as he sees shadows everywhere. Then, the news of another deadly foe reaches, through a visit by Æthelwulf – Vikings are ravaging Wessex lands, which could mean their arrival in Mercia by boat along the Severn river.

So again, Ealdorman Ælfstan and his men are tasked with accompanying the pompous young king of Kent to a hill fort deep in Wessex, to see the threat for themselves. That's when things start to go awry for Icel, and he finds himself facing certain death...

 

Shield of Mercia doesn't cover a long period of time, but still a quite tumultuous one. From the synod held in Mercia in AD 836, when we first hear of not-so-subtle threats against our hero, Icel, to the ravaging fury of a large, out-of-control fire on the Wessex coast, set by ... well, the Vikings? ... this is a novel you can't put down. It's the kind of story where nothing much seems to happen – but still a lot is going on. One call to duty chases another, and I'm surprised Icel and his fellow warriors have time to take a breath. I do feel for their horses, too, who have to race from one end of the kingdom to another.

 I did wonder, once or twice, as to why Ælfstan sends Icel on errands that clearly are a threat to Icel's life, with there being talk of revenge by the West Saxons. I'd have thought the other warriors could cope with certain events, keeping him safe. But it is what it is, and the young, resourceful man gets himself into trouble again and again, as we expect of him. Icel ensconced somewhere safe, instead of in the thick of it, just wouldn't be Icel!

With two enemies to consider – the West Saxons and the Vikings – (how) will Icel survive his latest adventures? Well, you should really read this novel, and the full series, to start with, which is one of the best historical fiction series out there at the moment.

As always, MJ Porter's research is impeccable, as Icel is drawn into the political intrigues and personal feuds of greedy, powerful medieval rulers. I couldn't but help seeing parallels between Ecgberht of Wessex and a certain 21st-century leader, but that may just be my own perception... ;-)

Shield of Mercia is another cracking Mercian adventure by MJ Porter, one that has you reading late into the night. Highly recommended!

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Blurb:

Mercia is triumphant. Her king is safe. But Wessex was never Mercia’s only enemy.
Tamworth, AD836

Following a brutally cold winter, King Wiglaf of Mercia is in the ascendancy. Even Wessex’s Archbishop of Canterbury extraordinarily ventures to Mercia to broker a religious accord. But, can the hard-won peace prevail?

Viking raiders threaten Wessex. These blood-thirsty warriors are fast, skilful and have no reticence about killing those who stand in their way. Their aim isn't to rule but to overwhelm, slaughter and take ill-gotten wealth.

King Wiglaf is no fool. As the Vikings push to overwhelm Wessex, Mercia’s lands look insecure. King Wiglaf needs the shields of Mercia's warriors to prevent the overwhelming advancement of their deadliest enemy yet.

To save Mercia, Icel must first prevail over the two men who mean to end his life; King Ecgberht of Wessex and his son, Æthelwulf of Kent and only then the marauding Viking army for whom boundaries have no meaning.

An action packed, thrilling historical adventure perfect for the fans of Bernard Cornwell and Matthew Harffy.

 

Universal Buy Link:  https://mybook.to/ShieldofMercia

 

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About the Author:

MJ Porter

MJ Porter is the author of many historical novels set predominantly in Seventh to Eleventh-Century England, and in Viking Age Denmark. Raised in the shadow of a building that was believed to house the bones of long-dead Kings of Mercia, meant that the author's writing destiny was set.

 

 

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